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Clichés, should it be used or avoided at all costs?

Personally, I’m fine with clichés that are few and far between the entire story. Notorious or not, I don’t really judge it as long as it has a reason to exist in that particular novel. Or a reasonable explanation why. Or a good plot twist with that cliché.

Personally, clichés are fine when they are done with their own twist. And originality also brought into the entire story, and the execution and setting of it. I’m fine with some tropes which as long as they are not paired with other clichés which also occur frequently in the genre. I’m only annoyed when it becomes so evident what is going to happen way before the actual plot twist occurs.

Because it’s truly hard to write something completely original. We all borrow things a little here and there. But really originality is how you put a spin on it, and change the tone or mood on it. Or add another possibility to it. Normally, I don’t have much fondness for clichés, but I can excuse them when they are weaved seamlessly into the story itself. Not thrown in the face with little explanation for why it should exist other than it being the more convenient way to push the plot along.

I would say use them in moderation, and sometimes even reluctantly to reduce it being too expected. Not to totally cut out using them, but to consider other methods of pushing the plot forward before resorting to clichés. As stories sometimes needs them to be able to work and push it forward to another plot point.

So, what do you think about using clichés? Do you take my stand in this or do you disagree? Leave your comments below, as I would really want to hear what you think on this issue.

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2 thoughts on “Clichés, should it be used or avoided at all costs? ”

I think the problem a lot of readers (and writers) have with cliches is that they can often be a sign of laziness. Poor writers often rely on cliches that come to mind easily rather than having to think through more complex and interesting language. That is by far the worst way to use them. But sometimes a cliche conveys your intended meaning better than anything else, and in such a case it is useful. Also, when writing in a strong narrative voice, or with dialogue, cliches can be important in order to simulate real speech. So yes, they have their uses. The important thing is to have a reason, to know why you are choosing to use a cliche, and especially to even know you are making that choice.

I agree, it’s not lazy to use a cliché when it’s the best way to convey your intended meaning. A lot of readers sometimes even remind me about those clichés, for me it really gets lazy if the author ends up using too much of them and having the story end predictable. Thank you for your comment though I really like hearing from you.